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Mônica da Silva

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Mônica da Silva
Mônica da Silva performing with Complicated Animals 2015
Mônica da Silva performing with Complicated Animals 2015
Background information
BornGrand Rapids, Michigan, United States
GenresBossa nova, Música Popular Brasileira, Indie, Alternative, Electronic
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active2007–present
LabelsSocialite Fiasco Music
Websitewww.monicadasilva.com

Mônica da Silva is a Brazilian/American singer, songwriter, musician, and producer. She is best known for her multi-lingual music compositions.[1] Mônica grew up between the U.S. and Belém, Brazil, a city on the Amazon River, and she is a citizen of both countries. Mônica's sound is a blend of bossa nova, MPB and indie pop.

Biography

Early life and career

Monica da Silva was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to a Brazilian mother and an American father, who met while her father was in the Peace Corps in Brazil. She started playing piano and flute at an early age, and was always singing. Mônica teamed up with her siblings Erica and Bruce Driscoll, forming a band called Nectar. The siblings embarked on a national tour, playing colleges (NACA), venues, and festivals (Mobfest), and eventually landed a development deal with EMI Publishing. In 2002, Nectar won Runner Up in the Pop Category for the UK Songwriting Contest with the song "Life Out Loud".

Solo career

Mônica then set off on her own, moving to Chicago, and forming a band called Socialite Fiasco with guitarist and songwriter Brett Ratner. They recorded an album, Miles From Nowhere.

Focusing on Brazilian Roots

In December 2007, Mônica met Chad Alger, after responding to an ad he had posted in the musician category on Craigslist. The ad that Alger had posted, searching for "someone to start a Brazilian project with" intrigued da Silva, who had been wanting to steer her music more toward her Brazilian heritage.[2] da Silva and Alger quickly hit it off, and began playing in a quartet at many clubs around Chicago. Alger was originally da Silva's drummer, but the two began writing songs together in da Silva's kitchen during the blizzardy winter of 2008, with Chad on guitar. The songs they came up with were a mixture of Bossa Nova and Indie Pop, a genre Mônica coined "Indie Nova". The lyrics were a blend of Portuguese and English. Many of the songs they wrote were later recorded on the first album they released together"Brasilissima". Monica and Chad began touring around the United States, heading for South by Southwest (SXSW), and showcasing at RedGorilla Music Festival in Austin, TX.

Discography

  • Miles From Nowhere 2007[3]
  • Brasilissima 2011

References

  1. ^ "Socialite Fiasco History". Socialite Fiasco Music. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  2. ^ "International Pop Overthrow Wrap-Up". Illinois Entertainer. Retrieved 30 April 2008.
  3. ^ "Brazilian-American Monica da Silva explores a cultural mix on new album". Florida Times Union. 7 January 2011.
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